Be more prepared and confident to

get the loans you need


Business Loan Basics Course

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Get this course and all other CFO Perspective courses along with downloadable tools and access to Rob for only $290/year as part of a FAST membership.

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Get the right loan at the best price you can

Business loans are a vital source of funding for small businesses. The process can seem complicated and difficult. Let me give you the basics to be more prepared and confident to get the loans you need.

Some of the major topics include:

  • Ways to reduce the interest rate on your loan.
  • Determine whether loan funding is right for you with easy ratio analysis and cash flow projections to help
  • How leverage (the use of borrowed funds) magnifies returns but increases risk. Many business owners chase profits and end up bankrupting their companies. I’ll show you how to avoid this.
  • Where to get business loans. There are many options you may not know about. I give an overview of the Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs.
  • Key loan components like how interest is calculated, types of fees, and the multiple terms that can be structured into a loan.
  • How to prepare for the application process.
  • Overview of the application process and the documents lenders frequently request.
  • How lenders decide whether to approve a loan. Knowing this increases your chances of being approved.
  • Key documents that are signed at loan closing are described, and the importance of each. I’ll point out important clauses to pay attention to in these documents. 

You also get access to worksheets, templates, and guides to improve your chances of getting the right loan at the right price. You get the following: 

  • 7 Ways to Get the Best Loan Pricing You Can: This has tips on how to lower your interest rate.
  • Key Metrics Worksheet: Enter five numbers in a worksheet to calculate a couple of key metrics that estimate if you’ll have enough cash over the next year.
  • Cash Trends Worksheet: Identify trends in your cash flows and how loans can help smooth out your cash flows.
  • Lending Term Glossary: Translate “banker-speak” into words normal people use.
  • Checklist of Documents to Prepare: What to have ready for a faster loan application process.

I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of business lending. Let me show you the good and how to avoid the bad and ugly. I have served as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Director of Operations, and Senior Vice President of Finance at lending institutions over the past 20 years. I've been on loan approval committees, approved pricing on large loans, and had a collections department report to me. This course is filled with tips learned over those years.

"A truly comprehensive and detailed course about getting a business loan. Whether you are an experienced business owner or a first time buyer, I'm sure you'll find this valuable. I sure did! (And I have about 20 pages of notes to prove it!)" - Jack

Course Outline

Section 1: Where and When to Get Loans

  • Welcome and Overview
  • When to Get a Loan
  • Cash Flow Projection
  • Leverage

Section 2: Loan Terms, Interest, and Fees

  • Principal and Interest
  • Loan Terms
  • Types of Loans
  • Fees

Section 3: Getting the Best Pricing and the Application Process

  • Application Process
  • Getting the Best Loan Pricing
  • Underwriting
  • Government Loan Programs
  • Loan Documents

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Kind Words for the Business Loan Basics Course

"Great class for an introduction to business loans. Very knowledgeable instructor and lots of great information in the slides."

"Covers major topics. I liked the detail and examples that he gave beyond the slides." - Mark Conatser

"Great course for business owners."

Instructor(s)

Founder, CFO Perspective

Rob Stephens

Rob Stephens is the Founder of CFO Perspective, where he provides finance and strategy resources for small businesses. He has been quoted in Forbes, U.S. News and World Report, Bloomberg Businessweek, and many other news sources. He is also the author of Conquering Cash Flow: The Complete Guide to Small Business Cash Flow Management.

Rob has a 25-year career that includes serving as CFO, Director of Operations, and SVP of Finance. Rob is an adjunct instructor for the MBA program at Gonzaga University.

Rob holds a Masters of Science in Personal Financial Planning and a Graduate Certificate in Financial Therapy from Kansas State University. He received a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Washington and is a CPA.

"Course really held my interest. Gave me insight since I'm in the process of staring a small business and was considering if I needed to take out a small business loan." - course review

Are You Ready to Achieve Your Goals?

Join Now for $27

- OR -

MOST POPULAR

Get this course and all other CFO Perspective courses along with downloadable tools and access to Rob for only $290/year as part of a FAST membership.

The Business Loan Basics course is one of the courses you get with a FAST membership.

Get all the courses plus more in one package. FAST (Finance and Strategy Toolkit) is the membership program that gives you the resources for better strategic financial management. Get direct access to me as well tools for improved decisions that lead to superior business performance. 

The right tools save you time, reduce your stress, and improve your effectiveness.

Learn More About FAST

FAST Member? Click here for instant access.

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